During Chinese New Year, 300 Million Movement Restrictions... Could Affect Winter Olympics

Restrictions in 7 Regions Including Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, Henan Province, Zhejiang Province, Guangxi Province, and Neimenggu
Up to 1000 Yuan Accommodation Allowance Provided in Some Areas Such as Hefei in Anhui Province and Ningbo in Zhejiang Province

[Asia Economy Beijing=Special Correspondent Jo Young-shin] Ahead of the Spring Festival holiday, the largest holiday in China, a travel restriction advisory has been issued for seven provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions including Beijing. The population of these seven regions alone reaches 300 million.

In some areas, a stay allowance of up to 1,000 yuan (approximately 180,000 KRW) will be provided if residents do not travel to other regions during the Spring Festival holiday. As COVID-19 spreads again, Chinese authorities appear to have taken the travel restriction measure, judging that it could negatively impact the Beijing Winter Olympics.

Photo by Global Times Capture

According to Chinese media such as Global Times and Pengpai on the 11th, Beijing authorities issued a notice the previous day advising against traveling to other regions during the Spring Festival holiday period (January 31 to February 6). Considering the Winter Olympics and the domestic spread of COVID-19, Beijing authorities instructed the cancellation of domestic travel.

In addition to Beijing, local governments in Shanghai, Tianjin, Henan Province, Zhejiang Province, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, and Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region also recommended travel restrictions to other regions during the Spring Festival holiday. Including Xi'an in Shaanxi Province, where the entire city is already locked down, the population subject to travel restrictions during the holiday exceeds 290 million.

Some regions have introduced stay allowances to prevent travel during the Spring Festival holiday. Hefei City in Anhui Province announced the previous day that it will provide 1,000 yuan in stay expenses to non-residents who do not travel to other regions.

Ningbo City in Zhejiang Province, home to China's largest port, has also introduced a similar policy. Companies based in Ningbo have decided to provide employees with stay allowances as well as accommodation and meals during the holiday period.

Liang Wannian, team leader of the Chinese National Health Commission, stated, "The policy on returning home during the Spring Festival holiday varies depending on the local situation," adding, "Decisions on travel restrictions during the Spring Festival holiday should be made by local governments." He explained that the number of regions subject to travel restrictions may increase depending on the COVID-19 situation.

Meanwhile, in Anyang City, Henan Province, Omicron infections have been confirmed, showing signs that the COVID-19 spread originating from Tianjin is expanding to surrounding cities. Chinese media such as Pengpai reported that among the two Omicron cases confirmed in Anyang, one was a university student who came from Tianjin to Anyang, identifying this patient as the first transmitter in Anyang. They also reported that most of the 26 confirmed cases identified the previous day were students of a middle school located in Tangyin County, Anyang City.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.